: This famous tourist attraction of Samut Songkhram is a bar on the mouth of the Mae Klong River. It was formed by the sedimentation of sandy soil called by villagers here as ‘Sai Khi Pet.’ The bar of 3 km wide and 5 km long covers two zones: Don Nok is on the mouth of Ao Mae Klong, and Don Nai is located on the beach of the Chuchi village in Tambon Bang Chakreng and on the beach of the Bang Bo village in Tambon Bang Kaeo. In the area of the bar, there are many shellfish, such as Hoi Lot (razor clam), Hoi Lai (undulated surf clam), Hoi Puk (Ridged Venus clam), Hoi Pak Pet (tongue shell), Hoi Khraeng (cockle), etc. Hoi Lot is mostly found here and it has become a landmark of this place. Hoi Lot is a species of bivalve mollusks, having muddy white meat in a straw-shaped shell and living in mud. Hoi Lot will be caught during low tide. A small stick previously dipped in lime will be put in a hole where the shellfish live. Because of the lime, they will be stimulated to appear and are caught easily. The lime should not be directly spread on the bar since it will kill all other shellfish in the area.
Wat Satthatham or Wat Mon is located at Mu 5, Tambon Bang Chakreng. A landmark is the Ubosot (ordination hall) built by Phrakhru Samutwisutthiwong (former abbot) in 1992. The ordination hall is made of golden teak with mother-of-pearl-inlaid walls both inside and outside. The designs are exquisite, depicting the Lord Buddha’s history and Ramayana episodes. Housed inside the ordination hall are Buddha images: Luangpho Ban Laem, Luangpu Thuat Yiap Nam Thale Chuet, and Luangpho Phuttha Sothon, which are worshipped by the people of Samut Songkhram and nearby provinces. On the temple grounds, Kalamae-Raman or coconut toffee is sold. It is a famous dessert of the temple for its sticky, sweet and creamy taste. The sweet is uniquely wrapped in Kap Mak (leaf sheath of a betel nut tree).
Wat Khao Yi San is located in Ban Khao Yi San, Tambon Khao Yi San. Presumably, this ancient temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period. Here, there are many interesting spots. The Wihan on the hilltop is a boat-shaped hall where the four Buddha’s footprints are enshrined. The Mondop (square building) and wood-carved door panels from the late Ayutthaya period are fine craftsmanship of the master art. The renovated Ubosot possesses the art of stucco by craftsmen from Mueang Phet or Phetchaburi. Inside, there are original paintings, and figures from the Chinese chronicles seen on the window panels. The Phra Non Cave has a reclining Buddha image with nine toes. At the lower part lies the sacred shrine of Luangpho Pu Si Racha which is respected by the villagers. A fair to pay homage to the revered image is held in the first lunar month of every year.
Ban Khao Yi San Museum is situated on the temple grounds, using Sala Kan Parian (preaching hall) as its building. It was established in 1996 with full cooperation from the villagers of the Yi San Community who have been aware of their local history. Yi San is an ancient community of the same age as the Ayutthaya Kingdom, with people living in it continuously. The museum presents the stories of the community which are important and worth a study. On the ground floor, there are displays of folk wisdom, life and culture, tools for making herbal medicine, and household utensils.
Wat Ban Laem or Wat Phet Samut Worawihan is located in town on Phet Samut Road. This is an important temple of the province. Initially, it was called Wat Si Champa. According to the Chronicles of the royal records, the Burmese led an army to attack the city of Phetchaburi in 1764. At that time, a Thai army from the capital came in time to help protect the city. Villagers of Ban Laem in Phetchaburi fled from the Burmese to resettle in Tambon Mae Klong to the north of Wat Si Champa, and called their village ‘Ban Laem,’ the same name as their former village in Phetchaburi. Later, the villagers helped restore the temple and renamed it ‘Wat Ban Laem.’ Most of the villagers of Ban Laem are fishermen. Once they went fishing in Ao Mae Klong and found two Buddha images in their trawl net. One was a seated image and the other was a standing figure. The seated image was brought to Wat Khao Takhrao in Amphoe Ban Laem, Phetchaburi, while the other was enshrined here in Wat Ban Laem and commonly called ‘Luangpho Ban Laem.’ The standing Buddha image holding an alms bowl is around 167 cm high. (The original alms bowl was lost in the sea. Somdet Chaofa Krom Phraya Phanuphantwongworadet offered a new one of blue glass instead.) Because of its sacredness, the image has gained respect from the villagers. Wat Ban Laem was developed to be a large temple since faithful people continued to make merit and pay homage to the image. Later, it was promoted as a royal temple of the third class and given a new name as ‘Wat Phet Samut Worawihan. Inside the temple compound, there is a Sangha museum with displays of Buddha images, amulets of different periods, ancient artefacts, blue-and-white porcelain, and a pulpit of the Ayutthaya period. Admission is allowed only through contact in advance to the abbot.
Chang-Eng Siamese Twins Memorial and Boat Museum are located in Tambon Lat Yai on Ekkachai Road, around 4 km from City Hall. The statues were built in memory of Chang-Eng, the Siamese twins who made Thailand famous around the world. They stand in the middle of a broad ground decorated with trees and flowering plants. There is a large pond in the foreground. Furthermore, the biography of Chang-Eng, the Siamese twins, is on display in a hall. Chang-Eng, the Siamese twins were born on 11 May 1811, in Samut Songkhram. During 1828-1829, Captain Coffin and Hunter came to Mae Klong to conduct trade and they encountered the Siamese twins. They were allowed to take the Siam twins back with them to America and the United Kingdom for shows in public places where the life stories of Chang-Eng who were joined to each other at the chest were repeated again and again. Both of them lived a normal life to the age of 63. The name of ‘Siamese twins’ made Thailand famous worldwide.
Amphoe Amphawa
This district has an important record in Thai history during the late Ayutthaya to the early Rattanakosin periods. Initially, it was a small community called ‘Khwaeng Bang Chang’ which flourished in agriculture and trade. According to evidence, in the reign of King Prasat Thong, Khwaeng Bang Chang had a marketplace called ‘Talat Bang Chang.’ The market mistress ‘Noi,’ held a title of Thao Kaeophaluek and she was in a wealthy family of Bang Chang which later became a royal lineage of ‘Na Bang Chang.’ In 1760, King Ekkathat of Ayutthaya appointed Nai Thongduang (King Rama I) as Luang Yokkrabat to rule Ratchaburi, the fourth level city of Ayutthaya. Luang Yokkrabat later married Khun Nak, a daughter of the wealthy family in Bang Chang, and moved to live behind Wat Chulamani. When his house was burnt by a fire, he resettled behind Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram. In 1767 when the Ayutthaya Kingdom was destroyed by the Burmese, Luang Yokkrabat decided to evacuate his family into the deep forest. During the time, Than Kaeo (Somdet Krommaphra Si Sudarak), an elder sister of Luang Yokkrabat, gave birth to a daughter named ‘Bunrot’ who later became Somdet Phra Si Suriyenthramat Borommarachini, the queen of King Rama II. During the Thon Buri period, Phraya Wachiraprakan gathered enough forces to successfully dispel the Burmese out of the kingdom, and established himself as Phrachao Taksin (King Taksin). Luang Yokkrabat moved his family back to town and then his wife, Khun Nak, gave birth to the fourth son named ‘Chim’ (King Rama II). Luang Yokkrabat returned to work with King Taksin the Great and was given the title of Phra Ratchawarin Chao Krom Phra Tamruat Nok Khwa. He was later promoted as Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kasatsuek and was crowned as King Rama I, the founder of the Royal House of Chakri and the Rattanakosin Kingdom. His wife, Khun Nak, was appointed as queen named Somdet Phra Ammarinthramat and her mother, Khun San, was given the title of Somdet Phra Rupsirisophak Mahanaknari. Since Queen Ammarinthramat was a native of Bang Chang, she had immediate relatives who did farming there. As the queen was a member of the royal lineage of Bang Chang, they, therefore, became members of the royal lineage by their relation to the queen. The queen usually went to visit them. Until the reign of King Rama IV, the district of Bang Chang had been referred to as ‘Suan Nok’ (outside garden) while ‘Suan Nai’ (inside garden) was the royal palace in Bangkok. Hence, Amphoe Amphawa has had a place in Thai history for a long time.
Talat Nam Tha Kha is located in Tambon Tha Kha. This floating market still remains the villagers’ way of life in nature. The villagers here do farming and grow various plants. They usually paddle a boat to bring their produce to sell to each other. The vegetables and fruits from their orchards include chili, shallot, garlic, coconut sugar, guava, coconut, rose apple, pomelo, etc.
Wat Chula Mani This ancient temple sits on the bank where the Amphawa Canal connects with the Phi Lok Canal. The temple was built in the Ayutthaya period during the late reign of King Prasatthong. It was presumed that Thao Kaeophaluek (Noi), Mistress of the Bang Chang Market and a forebear of the royal lineage of Bang Chang, built the temple. The back of the temple was initially the residence of Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat of King Rama I) and Khun Bunrot (Queen Si Suriyenthramat of King Rama II).
Wat Bang Kaphom This ancient temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period. The old Wihan (image hall) is very interesting. On the upper part of the walls, there are unusual mural paintings in the form of stucco reliefs depicting the Lord Buddha’s history. On the lower part of the walls, there are niches with Buddha images inside. In the centre of the hall, a large replica of four superimposing Buddha’s footprints in different sizes is enshrined. It was presumed that the footprints were built in the Thon Buri period. Initially, they were covered by silver sheets which were later stolen during a war. The footprint at the deepest level which is made from mother-of-pearl-inlaid wood still retains its beautiful design. On the temple grounds, a small coffee shop offers traditional tasty tea and coffee.
Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram is next to the King Rama II Memorial Park. It is a temple associated with the royal lineage of Bang Chang. Presumably, it was built during the reign of King Rama I. The back of this temple was once a residence of Luang Yokkrabat (King Rama I) and Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat of King Rama I). It was believed that the area where the Prang (pagoda) is standing was the birthplace of Khun Nak’s son or Khun Chim who later became King Rama II.
Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram was renovated several times by Kings Rama III, IV, and V. At present, it is a royal temple of the second class. The Ubosot (ordination hall) and permanent structures within the temple are mostly formed in the early Rattanakosin style of art and architecture.
King Rama II Memorial Park is the project to honour King Rama II by the King Rama II Memorial Foundation under Royal Patronage, for the royal graciousness of bestowing exquisite art and culture as a national treasure, which qualified King Rama II to be praised as a Person of the World by UNESCO. The construction site of the Memorial Park, which was given by Phra Ratchasamutmethi, an abbot of Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram, covers an area of around 11 rai. The area is important since it was a birthplace of King Rama II. Within the King Rama II Memorial Park, there are many interesting spots: King Rama II Museum is comprised of four Thai-styled buildings separated into sections. The Central Hall houses the statue of King Rama II and displays artefacts from the early Rattanakosin era, such as Bencharong pentachrome porcelain, pottery, Khon masks, etc. The Male Room presents the living quarters of heroic Thai men, with a Buddha image and a bed which is believed to have belonged to King Rama II. The Female Room displays living quarters of Thai women in the past, with a dresser, a mirror, etc. The Veranda imitates that of a traditional Thai house, decorated with pots of dwarfed trees and decorative plants. The Kitchen and Restroom display a Thai kitchen with kitchenware and crockery, and a restroom of the middle class.
Ban Phaya So: So’ or a fiddle is a local musical instrument of the Central Region. Ban Phaya So is a house of the alto fiddle (So U) maker who combines the art of traditional Thai music with carving. A coconut that is used for making a fiddle will be carved with different designs, such as character figures, changeable rose flowers, name initials, names of the twelve astrological years, etc. Nowadays, this art is rarely seen.
Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong is by the Mae Klong River, at the mouth of the Pracha Chom Chuen Canal on the west bank, in Tambon Suan Luang. There are many interesting items within the temple. Kudi Thong or a golden- teak monk’s cell has an unusual story that the father of Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat) had her fortune examined by the abbot of Wat Bang Li. The abbot foretold that the daughter would become a queen. The millionaire father, therefore, promised to build a Kudi Thong for the temple if the abbot’s words proved true. Wat Bang Li was later named Wat Bang Li Kudi Thong. When the temple soil was eroded and destroyed by water, the Kudi Thong was moved to be restructured at Wat Phummarin. Hence, Wat Phummarin was renamed ‘Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong.’ Furthermore, there is a Wat Phummarin Museum and an Educational Park, where valuable artefacts worth a study and conservation have been collected, such as Buddha images, traditional Thai books, blue-and-white porcelain and brassware. A Buddha image here, which is over three hundred years old, is a gilded stucco image in the posture of Subduing Mara, called ‘Phra Phuttha Rattana Mongkhon or Luangpho To.’ There is also a monument of King Rama II.
Ban Dontri or House of Music is located in the temple compound of Wat Kudi Thong. A school building is used for instructing traditional Thai music. The Samut Songkhram Primary School Office has envisioned that the cultural value of folk wisdom should be preserved and inherited to the next generation for their pride in the future. A voluntary group of traditional Thai musicians in the past has been formed to give music lessons for a new generation, so that the spirit of the music city would be passed down. The House of Music has operated since 1 July, 1999.
Wat Bang Khae Yai is located on the bank of the Mae Klong River, at the mouth of the Bang Khae Canal in Tambon Khwae Om. It was built in 1814. Inside the temple, there are ancient monuments and artefacts. The large Ubosot (ordination hall) is more than 150 years old. At the front, the square Chedi (pagoda) with twelve indented corners is the art of the Ayutthaya period. The laterite principal Buddha image in the ordination hall is in the posture of Subduing Mara. There are seven Dharma Chedis built in 1872 with a boundary wall. On a separating wall in a monk’s cell, a tempera mural painting from the late reign of King Rama II depicts a battle between the Siamese and the Burmese, probably the one that King Rama II sent troops to obstruct the enemy at Ratchaburi in 1821.
Ban Maeo Thai Boran is a house where species of genuine Siamese cats have been conserved. It is located at 2/1 Mu 7, Tambon Khwae Om. The house of traditional Siamese cats was created by lovers of Siamese cats to promote and support the conservation of Siamese cats to be a treasure of the nation. It also gives information on genuine features of Siamese cats, supports research, exchanges knowledge and views between members, and exchanges research experiences and breeding with relevant bodies. Khun Pricha Phukkhabut, the co-founder and caretaker of the traditional Siamese cat house, told that “my mother raised Siamese cats of the Wichian Mat species when I was young. At that time, I did not pay much attention to them. When I grew up, I was to feed them. There were not many cats in my house. My family continued to keep Wichian Mat cats and I had developed a bond with them. Later, some friends who were cat lovers talked about the conservation of the cat since it was clever, graceful, attractive, and had pleasing habits.” Apart from the species of Wichian Mat, Siamese cats also include Si Sawat, Supphalak, and Koncha. Inside the house, there is a breeding section divided into cages of various types of Siamese cats.
Wat Bang Khae Noi is located in Tambon Khwae Om by the Mae Klong River. This temple was built by Khunying Chui (Noi) Wongsarot in 1868. Initially, the Ubosot (ordination hall) was built on the bamboo raft tied to a Bodhi tree on the river bank. At present, the temple is well restored. The most interesting thing is the ordination hall’s inside walls which are woodcarvings depicting the Lord Buddha’s history, birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, as well as stories of the Lord Buddha’s Ten Incarnations or Jatakas.
Wat Intharam is located in Tambon Mueang Mai. This ancient temple was built in 1757 during the Ayutthaya period. It was renovated during the reign of King Rama III. There are many interesting points within the temple compound. Luangpho To, the Buddha image here is over 300 years old. The Ubosot (ordination hall), which was built from marble, has teak doors and window panels carved with proverbs.
Church of the Virgin Mary or Atsana Wihan Maephra Bangkoet is situated at Mu 7, Tambon Bang Nok Khwaek. This is a sacred place of worship of the Christians living in the area. It was built in 1890 by Father Paolo Salmone, a French missionary with supporting funds from his relatives in France, the overseas mission of Paris and Rome, and philanthropists in Bangkok. It took up to six years to complete the construction. The official opening ceremony was held on 11 February, 1896. It is a building of the French Gothic architectural style and coated with pounded lime. The interior is decorated with coloured stained glass. There are statues, a pulpit, a holy water basin, various kinds of candelabra, and carvings depicting historical stories in the Bible. The church is not far from the river bank.
Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan is located in Tambon Bang Nok Khwaek, around 5 km from town. Within the temple, there is the Ubosot (ordination hall) built in a unique style with its ceiling curved like a boat’s roof. The hall houses Luangpho To, a Buddha image of the Sukhothai period. This laterite image has a lap width of 178 cm and a height of 208 cm from the seating base to the halo. In front of the temple, a pond teems with fishes, especially Pla Taphian Ngoen and Pla Taphian Thong.
Bang Kung Camp Following the second defeat of the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1767, King Taksin the Great moved the naval force to set up camp in the district of Bang Kung since Mueang Mae Klong (the city of Mae Klong) was in the way used by the Burmese army. A wall was built to make Wat Bang Kung be in the middle of the camp as a spirit centre for soldiers. King Taksin the Great later commanded the Chinese from Rayong, Chon Buri, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi to form a guard unit for the camp. The camp was, therefore, called the ‘Bang Kung Chinese Camp.’ The king named the guards ‘Thahan Phakdi Asa’ or the ‘voluntary loyal soldiers.’ In 1768, the Burmese king of Angwa led an army via Kanchanaburi to surround the camp. King Taksin the Great and Phra Maha Montri (Bunma) jointly fought and defeated the Burmese. It was the first battle against the Burmese after the Kingdom of Thon Buri had been established by King Taksin the Great. The victory was hailed as moral support to the Thai people while it created a sense of fear among the Burmese army. The camp site was left deserted for almost 200 years. In 1967, the Ministry of Education established a Boy Scout camp on the site to celebrate King Taksin the Great, and also built a shrine as a memorial to the king. The ceremony to raise the shrine was held on 20 June 1968. Within the camp compound, there is the Ubosot (ordination hall) commonly called as ‘Bot Luangpho Dam,’ which was built in the Ayutthaya period. The hall is wholly covered by four species of ficus plants: Pho (Bodhi), Sai, Krai, and Krang. Therefore, it is also called ‘Bot Prok Pho’ (ordination hall covered by Bodhi trees). The monument of King Taksin the Great is in the nearby area.
Wat Bang Kung is located in the same area as the Bang Kung Camp, on the opposite side and separated by a road. Within the temple, there is an old ordination hall which houses a large sculptured Buddha image commonly called by villagers as Luangpho Bot Noi. Mural paintings from the late Ayutthaya period depict Lord Buddha while he was sitting in the niche and preaching, flanked by the disciples in paying respect to him.
Cruise the Mae Klong River:. Among the houses are rarely-seen traditional ones called Ruean Panya or hip-roof houses. Furthermore, there are riverside temples, such as Wat Amphawan, Wat Bang Khae Yai, Wat Bang Khae Noi, Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong, etc.
Sino Phattra Boat House is situated at 24 Mu 6 on the Samut Songkhram – Bang Nok Khwaek Road, Tambon Bang Khonthi, Amphoe Bang Khonthi. The boat which was once used for carrying rice will cruise the Mae Klong River, past the Bang Kung Camp, the King Rama II Memorial Park, and Wat Bang Khae Yai.
Fair in Honour of King Rama II: To be held in early February at the King Rama II Memorial Park in Amphoe Amphawa. There are performances, a demonstration of traditional Thai desserts, folk plays, outdoor classical Thai masked dance.
Lychee Fair: To be held from around the end of March to the early of April in Amphoe Amphawa (subject to the produce of each year).
Luangpho Ban Laem Fair: To be held between 13-19 April every year at Wat Phetsamut Worawihan in Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
Sunset at Don Hoi Lot Fair and Board Sliding Competition: To be held in May at Don Hoi Lot in Chuchi village, Mu 4, Tambon Bang Chakreng, Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
Khao Yai Pomelo Fair: To be held at the end of August every year.
Annual Long Boat Race: To be held on Loi Krathong Day at Wat Rat Peng in Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
Mackerel Eating and Mae Klong Famous Products Festival: To be held in front of City Hall in December.
digg